May robson



(No Model.)

Y M. ROBSON. ARTIFICIAL LEG POR THEATRICAL PURPOSES. No. 497,215.

Patented May 9, 1893..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAY ROBSON, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO AUGUSTUS II. BIROVVN,

OF SAME PLACE.

ARTIFICIAL LEG FOR THEATRICAL PU RPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,215, dated May 9, 1893.

Application filed March 23, 1 893.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, MAY ROBSON, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Artificial Leg for Theatrical Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The object ofthis invention is to produce a device by means of which burlesques of the popular skirt dancing can be produced with novel and startling effects.

To this end the invention consists in the provision of an artificial leg which is loosely attached to the person of the dancer and can be manipulated at the will of the dancer to produce as desired the semblance of extravagant and exaggerated poses, while ordinarily it hangs freely without inconveniencing the wearer and is concealed by the dress of the wearer.

In the drawings: Figure l is a view of the device ready for attachment to the body of the wearer. Fig. 2 is an outline view to illus@ trate the application of the device and the proper arrangement of the clothing.

The device comprises a representation A of the lower portion of a human leg, which may be made of any suitable material but preferably is a hollow form of wood, cork or papier mach for the sake of lightness.

To the leg A are secured the means for loosely supporting it from the person of the wearer. The simplest and most effective means for this purpose consist of a rod B fixed to the leg and a band or beltO which may be tied or otherwise fastened about the thigh or the body of the wearer. The rod is connected` to the belt or band by a simple loop c or such other means as will permit the leg to be moved freely in any direction. The rod affords a convenient means of attachment for the leg as it occupies very little space within the clothing and at the same time may be grasped by the hand of the dancer to throw the false leg into any desired position.

It will be found desirable to extend strong elastic bands D, D, from diferent points on the waist-belt C to the rod B, or to the top of the false leg A, or to the top of the stocking E with which the false leg may be clad. If

Serial No.46'7,248. (No model.)

these elastic bands are sufciently strong they will of themselves raise the leg to an elevated position as soon as it has been started by the hand of the dancer from its normal position.

In the use of the device it is preferred that the dancer should be clothed with the usual dancing skirts surrounding both of the lower limbs and that the false leg should be clothed with independent skirts. The limbs of the dancer and the false leg with their skirts are then surrounded by an outer skirt. The result of this arrangement is that the false leg does not interfere in the least with the free movements of the limbs of the dancer while the fact that the danceris actually standing upon both feet when manipulating the artificial leg is concealed, and furthermore, that the movements of the false leg become apparently more natural.

Many arrangements of cords, elasticbands, the., might be employed for supporting and effecting the movements of the false leg, but the arrangement described has been found to be sufficient for all practical purposes.

I claim as my inventionl. As a theatrical appliance for use in burlesque dancing, a false leg provided with cords or other suitable devices for supporting it loosely on the person so that it can move in any direction, and means whereby it can be moved at the will of the wearergsubstantially as specified.

2. As a theatrical appliance for use in burlesque dancing a false leg, a rod secured thereto, and a belt or band to be secured about the person of the dancer, the rod being connected loosely to said belt or band, substantially as shown and described.

3. As a theatrical appliance for use in burlesque dancing a false leg, a rod secured thereto, a belt or band to be secured about the person of the wearer, the rod being loosely connected to said belt or band, and elastic bands attached to the belt and connected to the false leg, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAY ROBSON.

Witnesses:

A. N. JESEEEA, A. WIDDEE.

IOO 

